A police officer is hit by a a petrol bomb during disturbances in North Belfast

Share

Get daily updates directly to your inbox

Thank you for subscribing!

Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email

PSNI top brass will be quizzed by investigators following a complaint they failed to properly protect their officers.

Terry Spence, chairman of the Police Federation of Northern Ireland, has lodged an official complaint with the Health and Safety Executive after 820 officers were injured in riots last year.

He told Tuesday’s annual federation conference: “Those in command who dither need to understand that the safety of officers is being jeopardised while those same officers struggle to prevent anarchy on our streets.”

The complaint accuses top police of delaying use of water cannon and giving the go-ahead for using baton rounds when trouble escalated during loyalist Union flag protests and contentious Orange Order marches.

He added: “Instead of being returned to the front line, officers should be hospitalised immediately for concussion, and given time to recover, as is the case for injured participants of close contact sports.

“Poor lines of decision-making, and delayed authorisation of deployment, and use of protective measures, such as AEPs [attenuated energy projectiles] and water cannon, are the major reasons for the shocking injury toll.

“When officers call for deployment and use of AEPs, then that request must be granted without delay.

“Like all workers, we have every right to the protection of health and safety legislation. It is the law and it must be obeyed by those in authority. There can be no excuses.

“This federation believes there was a failure by command in its duty of care to officers who confronted violent disorder orchestrated by loyalist paramilitaries during the summer period last year.”

Mr Spence also insisted members were determined to thwart the threat posed by dissident republicans.

He said: “We’ve moved on. Society is moving on. But these peddlers of misery are caught in a time warp, determined to drive us back to bloody conflict. We will do our best to ensure they fail.”

Policing Board member Jonathan Craig last night called for PSNI top brass to take the complaint seriously.

The DUP MLA said: “Our police officers put themselves in a dangerous position to protect the safety of the public and they deserve to have the very best protection themselves.

“The PSNI has a duty of care to its officers and this complaint must be taken seriously at the highest levels.”